New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MIND CURES.

MINI CUhEc.
CT.niEs n. BARRows 12no PIP. 24s Boston:
H. Fl. Carter 4 Karrick.
The author of this book discusses what is called
che mind-cure faith-cure, Christian science, ana
various other names, In an exceptionally clear
sighted way. He goes to the root OF the matter
In showing by abundant citations, first, that In
all ages there have been well authenticated IN
stances of physical healing without the aid OF
medicine; second, that in all ages men have at-
tempted to exIlain these cases in accordance with
their dominant beliefs and intellectual tenden-
cies third, that inasmuch as the character OF
such healing can be shown to be the same, under
whatever designation it is placed, there can DO no
warrant for any claim as to its origin as superior
to any other claim; fourth, that since the facts
demonstrated prove the unity Of the phenomena
the only rational conclusion is that they are the
manifestations of natural law OF which the
principle is vet unknown. In the preliminary
chapters the present mind-cure practice is dealt
with analytically. 1t is made clear that the
doctrines held and taught in connection with IL
have really no necessary relation to 1t; the PROOF
of this being the attested fact that precisely the
same results occur when the treatment is given by
those who boll Numerically opposed doctrines
As to the reality of the curcs-or rather, to
speak precisely, Of some cures-thc Affirmative
testimony Is indubitable. But it must be pointed
out that in many the physical change is plain
~ due, not to any external influence, but to the
influence OF the patients own mind upon his own
body. staple illustration of this class of cases
is that Of the paraytic, who, having had o
clinical thermometer introduced to his mouth just
after he had been told that he was to have new
treatment, jumped to the conclusion that the
thermometer was a therapeutic agent, declared
that he felt better already and in n few days and
solely by the use Of the thermometer. was restored
to the use of his limbs and discharged perma-
nently cured. In all such cases what Dr. Car
renter used to call "exrectant attention. evil
IDENTIFY exerts the curative influence But in
accepting this theory really not much
rcarcr solution of the problem, and at the same
time we stand committed to far-reaching in
auctions. One inevitable inference seems to be
that no matter what patient believes as to the
nature of the influence at work upon him. II only
his belief Is strong enough 1t makes no difference
whether it be true or false The dominant idea
may be dclusion, yet IL firmly held, that de-
fusion may effect be the medium of cure as
readily as though faith rested upon solid fact.
In the history of mind and faith cures, more
over it is found that cures effected apparently
10y the influence of external mind action. That
is to say that some enc may affect the patient
bodily state from without, and this too, even
when the belief of the external agent as to the
mode Of operation is plainly delusive. This is
carrying the influence of mind upon body step
further, and a wide step. But, as Mr.. Barrows
points out If nobody really knows how this in
fuence is brought to bear, or the nature OF it,
ON important question in practical ethics arises
In relation the Of tie crowds of socalled
mental healers who in these days are making
much money out of their rev occupation. This
Is not only an interesting but an important con-
sideration The mental heaers profess to teach
what they call their science 1t is quite Ger
tain, first that they have themselves no science,
not one of them being able TO explain how or
why the phenomena are produced; second, that
the doctrines which they teach as the foundation
Of their practice have no real connection with 1t,
are wholly unnecessary, and In plain truth serve
solely the purpose of the conjurors "Abraca-
dabra.n They cannot jmpart the gift OF healing
They cannot tell how the natural force is to be
controlled or directed. They working alto
gether in the dark, yet they pretend to have
solved the problem and on the strength Of this
pretension they teach the most contradictory,
fantastic and meaningless theories: ignorant mix
lures in the MAN, of Western Transcendentalism
and Indian Metaphysics, further confused by the
upintcligent interpretations of these blind leaders
public attention to the mischlevous phases OF the
mind cure, Mr.. Barrows's book is timely and
valuable.